Portrait of a Young Afsharid Nobleman

A young nobleman sits on a floral rug and against a large floral cylindrical pillow on an outdoor terrace. He wears a green vest decorated with a gold pattern and fur trim. His hat is distinct to the Afsharids, an Iranian dynasty that ruled between 1736 and 1796. It was founded by the military commander Nader Shah (r. 1736-1747), who sacked the Mughal capital of Delhi in 1739. Based on the turban ornament (sarpech) tucked into the hat’s sash, this young figure was likely affiliated with Afsharid nobility. He holds a pink rose up in his right hand. The large losses in paint reveal the under-drawing.